How to Make Your Website ADA Compliant
If you built your website yourself using platforms like Wix, Squarespace, Weebly, or WordPress, you may have wondered:
“Do I need to worry about ADA compliance?”
Short answer: Yes—but there are important improvements you can start now, with more advanced changes to consider as you go.
This guide focuses on practical, high-impact changes you can make yourself.
Note: This isn’t a complete checklist and isn’t legal advice—it’s a starting point to help you improve accessibility and reduce risk.
What Does “ADA Compliant” Mean?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that people with disabilities can access your website.
Most websites aim to follow accessibility guidelines created by the World Wide Web Consortium (WCAG). You don’t need to learn the technical details.
A simple way to think about it: Can someone use your website if they …
- Can’t see well
- Can’t use a mouse
- Use a screen reader
- Need clear, simple content
Where to Focus First (Biggest Impact)
If you only do a few things, start here. Here are a few high-impact changes you can make without needing technical skills:
1 Add Alt Text to Images
Describe what your images show so screen readers can interpret them.
Example:
- Bad Alt Text – “image1.jpg”
- Good Alt Text – “Customer browsing products on a laptop”
In platforms like WordPress or Wix, there is an alt text field in the image settings.
Add a short description of your image so screen readers can understand it.
2 Make Your Text Easy to Read (Contrast)
This is one of the most common and most important accessibility fixes.
Avoid low-contrast text like light gray on white.
If it’s hard for you to read, it’s a problem.
Good contrast makes text easier to read for everyone.
How to Check Your Colors
1 Find your colors
Click on the text or section in your site editor (like WordPress or Wix) and look for the color settings.
You’ll usually see a code like: #495057
Grab both the text color and background color
2 Check the contrast
Use: Coolors Contrast Checker
Paste both colors to see if they pass.
3 Adjust if needed
Use: Tint and Shade Generator
Try slightly lighter or darker versions, then re-check.
Simple rule: Use dark text on light backgrounds (or light text on dark backgrounds).
3 Use Clear Headings
Break your content into sections using headings (H1, H2, H3). Think of headings like an outline for your page.
This helps:
- Visitors scan your page
- Screen readers understand your content
Use headings to organize your content and make it easier to scan.
How to Think About Your ADA Risk
A common question is:
“How likely is this to actually be a problem for me?”
The answer depends on how your website is used. There’s no exact formula, but here’s a practical way to think about it:
Higher Risk
- You sell products or services online
- You accept bookings or payments
- Your website is central to your business
- You have a physical location open to the public
Moderate Risk
- Your site is informational but important for attracting customers
Lower (But Not Zero) Risk
- Very small or rarely used websites
A better question than “Am I compliant?” is:
“Can someone reasonably use my website without frustration?”
Want Help Improving Your Website’s Accessibility?
If you’d rather not figure all of this out on your own, I can help.
Whether you want:
- A quick audit
- A prioritized list of fixes
- Or someone to handle the updates
Feel free to reach out—happy to point you in the right direction or take it off your plate.
Even fixing just the basics can go a long way—and I’m happy to help you focus on what matters most.
Not sure where to start or want help making these improvements? I can take care of it for you.